Step 2: Detachment

"To detox the soul, God must remove every support and resource we have until the only thing we have left in the end is Him" 

I have been reading both John Climacus The Ladder of Divine Ascent with its thirty steps to heaven and St. Theresa of Avila Interior Castle with seven mansions all leading to the inner mansion of being Christ's bride in spiritual marriage.  I can see how Theresa's more simple seven mansions can give a big picture and simple image of where one is on the deeper journey.  But I can also see the thirty steps of John's ladder can give greater clarity and detail to the hard work and specific task ahead for spiritual advancement and growing in spiritual perfection.  Both can be helpful ways to chart the course and avoid dangers along the spiritual road towards God.

John's second step of detachment is to strip us of all the cares of the world and to follow Christ without hesitation.  The more we hesitate, the more spiritual work needs to be done.  This important area is continually looking at heaven and seeks God's help for everything.  There are also spiritual danger signs given like beware of false humility and arrogance.  These hidden inner enemies are always looking for ways to take us back into the flesh and the ways of the world.

Our only attachment should be God and God alone.  We are to walk in humility and gentleness always returning good for evil.  Every Christian needs to learn this inner way of detachment but many are called but few are chosen.  When we say we love certain physical things of life, detach yourself from it.  When we are bothered and disturbed in what somebody says or does, detach yourself from it.  When you are angry or agitated over little bothersome things in life, detach yourself from it.  In doing so the prisoner you set free is yourself.

Let God's Spirit and the lives of the saints instruct you in how to grow in Christian perfection.  Many of us are like Lot's wife who was spared from the destruction of Sodom only to look back and perish as a result.  The problem is not the person who sins against us but the result it brings in how we respond to evil and offenses.  We also will turn into pillar of salts if we do not look within but keep looking outside and back at the world.

Meditate on the greatness of God and not on the greed of the world.  Set your focus and gaze on heaven and Christ and the things of this world will be like shadows to the reality and substance of heaven.  Take care of your own soul if you are to care for other souls around you.  How can we love others and aid them if we are sick and ruin our health?  Or what good does it do to race ahead like zeal without knowledge where we find out in the process that we have left God behind?  Let God do the slow purifying work and marinate us in His extravagant grace and intoxicating presence.